IMMUNE PROFILES IN HEPATOSPLENIC SCHISTOSOMIASIS-MANSONI AFTER SURGICAL TREATMENTS

The hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis mansoni sometimes induces bl eeding in oesophageal varices that requires surgical treatment. Althou gh splenectomy is often necessary these patients rarely present with s eptic events, a finding that may be related to changes in the immunolo gical system. To investigate the immunological profiles of patients wi th schistosomiasis, we studied the B- and T-lymphocyte counts and the immunoglobulin A, G and M (IgA, IgG and IgM) levels in patients treate d surgically and in those who were not operated on. Patients who under went distal splenorenal shunt, preserving the spleen, showed significa ntly increased T-lymphocyte counts compared with healthy controls. The IgM and IgG levels were significantly increased compared with the hea lthy controls in patients submitted to partial and total splenectomy, respectively. The IgM level also tended to increase in patients who we re not operated on compared with the controls. These results suggest t hat chronic schistosomiasis may influence the immune system.